Caralee Caplan-Shaw

Lung pathologic findings in a local residential and working community exposed to World Trade Center dust, gas, and fumes.

Objective: To describe pathologic findings in symptomatic World Trade Center–exposed local workers, residents, and cleanup workers enrolled in a treatment program. Methods: Twelve patients underwent surgical lung biopsy for suspected interstitial lung disease (group 1, n = 6) or abnormal pulmonary function tests (group 2, n = 6). High-resolution computed axial tomography and pathologic findings were coded. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy was performed. Results: High-resolution computed axial tomography showed reticular findings (group 1) or normal or airway-related findings (group 2). Pulmonary function tests were predominantly restrictive. Interstitial fibrosis, emphysematous change, and small airway abnormalities were seen. All cases had opaque and birefringent particles within macrophages, and examined particles contained silica, aluminum silicates, titanium dioxide, talc, and metals. Conclusions: In symptomatic World Trade Center–exposed individuals, pathologic findings suggest a common exposure resulting in alveolar loss and a diverse response to injury.

Characteristics of a Residential and Working Community With Diverse Exposure to World Trade Center Dust, Gas, and Fumes

Objective: To describe physical symptoms in those local residents, local workers, and cleanup workers who were enrolled in a treatment program and had reported symptoms and exposure to the dust, gas, and fumes released with the destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001. Methods: Symptomatic individuals underwent standardized evaluation and subsequent treatment. Results: One thousand eight hundred ninety-eight individuals participated in the WTC Environmental Health Center between September 2005 and May 2008. Upper and lower respiratory symptoms that began after September 11, 2001 and persisted at the time of examination were common in each exposure population. Many (31%) had spirometry measurements below the lower limit of normal. Conclusions: Residents and local workers as well as those with work-associated exposure to WTC dust have new and persistent respiratory symptoms with lung function abnormalities 5 or more years after the WTC destruction.

Elevated Peripheral Eosinophils Are Associated with New-Onset and Persistent Wheeze and Airflow Obstruction in World Trade Center-Exposed Individuals

Background. Exposure to World Trade Center (WTC) dust and fumes is associated with the onset of asthma-like respiratory symptoms in rescue and recovery workers and exposed community members. Eosinophilic inflammation with increased lung and peripheral eosinophils has been described in subpopulations with asthma. We hypothesized that persistent asthma-like symptoms in WTC-exposed individuals would be associated with systemic inflammation characterized by peripheral eosinophils. Methods. The WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC) is a treatment program for local residents, local workers, and cleanup workers with presumed WTC-related symptoms. Patients undergo a standardized evaluation including questionnaires and complete blood count. Between September 2005 and March 2009, 2462 individuals enrolled in the program and were available for analysis. Individuals with preexisting respiratory symptoms or lung disease diagnoses prior to September 2001 and current or significant tobacco use were excluded, Results. One thousand five hundred and seventeen individuals met the inclusion criteria. Patients had a mean age of 47 years, were mostly female (51%), and had a diverse race/ethnicity. Respiratory symptoms that developed after WTC dust/fume exposure and remained persistent included dyspnea on exertion (68%), cough (57%), chest tightness (47%), and wheeze (33%). A larger percentage of patients with wheeze had elevated peripheral eosinophils compared with those without wheeze (21% vs. 13%, p < .0001). Individuals with elevated peripheral eosinophils were more likely to have airflow obstruction on spirometry (16% vs. 7%, p = .0003). Conclusion. Peripheral eosinophils were associated with wheeze and airflow obstruction in a diverse WTC-exposed population. These data suggest that eosinophils may participate in lung inflammation in this population with symptoms consistent with WTC-related asthma.

Systemic Inflammation Associated With World Trade Center Dust Exposures and Airway Abnormalities in the Local Community.

Background: Destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers on September 11, 2001, released massive dust, gas, and fumes with environmental exposures for community members. Many community members have lower respiratory symptoms (LRSs) that began after September 11, 2001, and remain persistent. We evaluated whether systemic inflammation measured by C-reactive protein was associated with WTC dust exposures, persistent LRS, and lung function. Methods: Community members self-referred for the treatment of symptoms related to September 11, 2001. C-reactive protein and lung function measurements, including spirometry and forced oscillation tests (impulse oscillometry system), were included as routine analyses in patients (2007 to 2012). Results: Increased C-reactive protein levels were associated with the type of WTC dust exposure, LRS, reduced spirometry, and increased forced oscillation measurements (n = 724). Conclusions: Ongoing systemic inflammation measured years after the event was associated with WTC dust exposures, persistent LRS, and abnormal lung function in a community cohort. These findings have implications for treatment and surveillance.

Oscillometry complements spirometry in evaluation of subjects following toxic inhalation

The World Trade Center (WTC) destruction released dust and fumes into the environment. Although many community members developed respiratory symptoms, screening spirometry was usually normal. We hypothesised that forced oscillation testing would identify functional abnormalities undetected by spirometry and that symptom severity would relate to magnitude of abnormalities measured by oscillometry. A symptomatic cohort (n=848) from the Bellevue Hospital WTC Environmental Health Center was evaluated and compared to an asymptomatic cohort (n=475) from the New York City Department of Health WTC Health Registry. Spirometry and oscillometry were performed. Oscillometry measurements included resistance (R5) and frequency dependence of resistance (R5−20). Spirometry was normal for the majority of subjects (73.2% symptomatic versus 87.6% asymptomatic, p<0.0001). In subjects with normal spirometry, R5 and R5−20 were higher in symptomatic versus asymptomatic subjects (median (interquartile range) R5 0.436 (0.206) versus 0.314 (0.129) kPa·L−1·s−1, p<0.001; R5−20 0.075 (0.085) versus 0.004 (0.042) kPa·L−1·s−1, p<0.0001). In symptomatic subjects, R5 and R5−20 increased with increasing severity and frequency of wheeze (p<0.05). Measurement of R5–20 correlated with the presence and severity of symptoms even when spirometry was within normal limits. These findings are in accord with small airway abnormalities as a potential explanation of the respiratory symptoms. Small airway dysfunction in a symptomatic population with normal spirometry years after exposure to WTC dust http://ow.ly/TAxxf

A Complication of Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica Presenting as Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure

Patient: Male, 27 Final Diagnosis: Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica Symptoms: Shortness of breath • stridor Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Neck computer tomography • pulmonary function test • neck surgical exploration • tracheostomy placement Specialty: Critical Care Medicine Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is a rare benign and often indolent disease. We report the first case of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TBO) presenting as acute hypercarbic respiratory failure due to superimposed subglottic submucosal abscess. Case Report: A 27-year-old man presented to the emergency department in respiratory distress that required mechanical ventilation for acute hypercarbic respiratory failure. Upon extubation the next day, stridor was elicited with ambulation. Spirometry revealed fixed upper airway obstruction. Neck imaging showed a 2.8×2.0×4.0 cm partially calcified subglottic mass with cystic and solid component obstructing 75% of the airway. Surgical exploration revealed purulent drainage upon elevation of the thyroid isthmus and an anterolateral cricoid wall defect in communication with a subglottic submucosal cavity. Microbiology was negative for bacteria or fungi. Pathology showed chondro-osseous metaplasia compatible with tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TBO). The patient received a course of antibiotics and prophylactic tracheostomy. Since tracheostomy removal 3 days later, the patient remains asymptomatic. Conclusions: Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is a rare disease with usually benign clinical course and incidental diagnosis. It may present as acute hypercarbic respiratory failure when subglottic infection is superimposed.

Improvement in severe lower respiratory symptoms and small airway function in World Trade Center dust exposed community members

OBJECTIVE Longitudinal assessment of lower respiratory symptoms (LRS) in community members with World Trade Center (WTC) exposures. METHODS Adult members of a treatment program with complete standardized visits were evaluated (n = 798). Association of demographic characteristics, mental health symptoms and lung function with trajectory of LRS between initial and monitoring visit was evaluated. RESULTS Severe LRS were present in 70% at initial and 63% at monitoring visit. Initial severe LRS were associated with WTC dust cloud exposure and mental health symptoms. Spirometry measures were not associated with LRS severity or trajectory; improvement in LRS was associated with improved lung function measured with forced oscillometry techniques. CONCLUSION Many community patients in a WTC treatment program had severe LRS associated with exposures and mental health symptoms. Improvement in LRS was associated with improvement in measures of small airway function. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:777-787, 2016.

Persistent Lower Respiratory Symptoms in the World Trade Center (WTC) Survivor Program, a Treatment Program for Community Members

Hundreds of thousands of community members (local residents, local workers, cleanup workers, students, and passersby) were exposed to the massive dust cloud released by the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001. Many also had chronic exposures to settled and resuspended dust in indoor and outdoor spaces and to fumes from fires that burned for months. Although funding for treatment and monitoring of this population lagged behind that of rescue and recovery workers, local communities and physicians were concerned early on about the potential adverse health effects of this group’s complex and varied WTC exposures, and the Bellevue Hospital Asthma Clinic began treating community members with respiratory symptoms soon after the disaster. Over the years, the program has evolved and grown and, with the passing of the Zadroga Act in 2010, earned ongoing federal funding as part of the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), which provides comprehensive treatment and monitoring to both “responders” and “survivors” (community members). The World Trade Center Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC) at Bellevue Hospital, the flagship Center of Excellence for the Survivor Program, provides multidisciplinary medical and mental health treatment to symptomatic WTC-exposed community members. Mirroring findings in rescue and recovery populations, studies from the WTC EHC, World Trade Center Health Registry, and others have documented persistent lower respiratory symptoms, mental health symptoms, and abnormalities of distal airway function in community members exposed to WTC dust, gas, and fumes. Ongoing monitoring, treatment, and research are essential to detect emerging health effects, improve treatment, and prevent adverse outcomes to communities affected by environmental disasters.